Scottish Executive

Air Services

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations it has made to (a) Her Majesty’s Government and (b) the European Union on aviation policy in each of the last five years.

Nicol Stephen: The Executive has been in regular contact with the Department for Transport and the European Union over the last five years to discuss a range of aviation issues affecting Scotland.

Asylum Seekers

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33601 by Ms Margaret Curran on 11 February 2003, whether the Home Secretary has yet consulted it regarding the siting of accommodation centres in Scotland.

Ms Margaret Curran: The Executive has not yet been consulted by the Home Secretary regarding the siting of an accommodation centre on Scotland.

Birds

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the best practice guidance for local authorities on how to tackle the problems associated with seagulls in urban areas will be finalised; whether such guidance will be published; whether the guidance will be issued in sufficient time to enable local authorities to implement it prior to the next nesting season, and whether the guidance will include a recommendation that licences be sought and obtained by local authorities well in advance of the nesting season to allow them to take specific action to cull seagulls where there are reports that such seagulls are attacking humans or property and what the reasons are for its position on this matter, particularly with regard to the benefits resulting from the guidance.

Allan Wilson: Officials have already met with a number of directors of environmental health from local authorities, to discuss their current methods and best practices on dealing with this issue. In addition we are exploring potential research opportunities to assist in developing a range of solutions. The research will be completed in 2004 and is likely to lead to guidance from the Executive to local authorities on best practice. I expect this guidance note to be a public document.

  Local authorities already have the powers, expertise and knowledge within their environmental health responsibilities to deal with the nuisance caused by seagulls and many have already developed best practice guidance, which is freely available, to deal with their particular gull issues.

  In relation to licensing, the research work into best practice will consider current licensing provisions. All local authorities are annually already sent copies of Scottish Executive general licences which enable them to currently take action against Great Black-backed gulls, Lesser Black-backed gulls and Herring gulls under specified circumstances. For all other gull species, individual licences can be sought from the Scottish Executive and should be applied for before the start of the breeding season.

  This work is consistent with the assurances given by me to the Parliament in the debate on seagull nuisance held on the 7 November 2002.

Carers

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the annual cost would be to the public purse if the state was required to provide the same level of service as that currently carried out by unpaid carers.

Mr Tom McCabe: The Executive acknowledges with gratitude the immense contribution made by Scotland’s carers. There is no estimate by the Executive of the notional cost of replacing this support with paid employees financed by the state. However, Carers UK launched a report Without Us…? in 2002 which calculated the value of support provided by carers in the UK at £57 billion a year.

Central Heating Programme

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3050 by Mrs Mary Mulligan on 29 October 2003, how many appeals by pensioners against the decision of a specialist surveyor have been (a) lodged and (b) upheld, since the establishment of the central heating installation programme.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: I have asked Angiolina Foster, the Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland to respond. Her response is as follows:

  From September 2002 until October 2003, 66 appeals were investigated. Thirty appeals were upheld and four appeals are still in progress.

Conservation

Nora Radcliffe (Gordon) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2563 by Allan Wilson on 6 October 2003, what percentage of the current total area of ancient woodland in Scotland under Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) protection received such protection in each year since 1993.

Allan Wilson: The percentage of the current total area of ancient woodland in Scotland which has received SSSI protection in each year since 1993 is shown in the following table.

  

 
 Area of ancient 
  woodland within SSSIs notified or renotified for woodland 
  interests each year (ha)
 % of total area 
  of ancient woodland in Scotland in SSSIs (94725.7 ha)


 1993
 11.94
 27.90


 1994
 0.00
 27.90


 1995
 23.50
 27.92


 1996
 699.81
 28.66


 1997
 207.33
 28.88


 1998
 108.25
 28.99


 1999
 0.00
 28.99


 2000
 239.67
 29.24


 2001
 1869.35
 31.21


 2002
 108.49
 31.32

Drug Misuse

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting times are for drug rehabilitation treatment in each local authority area.

Hugh Henry: The information requested is not held centrally. Waiting times data for treatment for drug misuse is not held consistently by agencies and statutory authorities across Scotland.

Education

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether funds are available to promote interaction and co-operation between the state and private sectors in education and, if not, whether it has any plans to make such funding available.

Peter Peacock: The Scottish Executive does not provide or plan to provide such funding. There are already examples of interaction and co-operation at many levels between the two sectors.

Elderly People

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to collect and examine evidence into the impact of programmes supplying elderly people with appropriate vitamins and minerals on the number of visits by them to GP surgeries.

Malcolm Chisholm: The risks and benefits of providing vitamin and mineral supplements are being addressed as part of the implementation of Adding Life to Years , the report of the expert group on the health care of older people. Visits to GPs by older people are determined by a number of complex factors. There are no plans at present to examine a causal link between the provision of vitamins and minerals to older people and the number of visits made to their GP.

Employment

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what reviews have taken place of the likely impact of the Working Time Directive on the road haulage industry.

Nicol Stephen: Matters relating to the working time proposals which will implement the Road Transport Directive are reserved. I recognise, however, the concern of the road haulage industry in Scotland about some of the proposals and we remain in close contact with colleagues in Westminster about such issues.

Enterprise

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the biotechnology cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes have been achieved.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive provides Scottish Enterprise with funds for economic development, including cluster activity.

  Scottish Enterprise invests in strategic priority areas such as commercialisation of the research base; accessing finance for start-up and growth; improving business support and infrastructure; attracting inward investment; building international connections and trade development; improving skills and developing the labour pipeline, and strengthening vital networks.

  Over the three-year period 2001-04, Scottish Enterprise has spent approximately £36.1 million directly on the biotechnology cluster.

  This is a headline figure, more detailed information is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Enterprise

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the microelectronics cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes have been achieved.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive provides Scottish Enterprise with funds for economic development, including cluster activity. Scottish Enterprise invests in the strategic priorities of establishing Scotland as an international centre for design and innovation; evolving Scotland’s infrastructure to support its design and innovation strategy and its core manufacturing/supply base, providing an appropriate skill base to meet current and future needs and accelerating Scotland’s engagement with global microelectronics industries.

  Over the three-year period 2001-04, Scottish Enterprise has spent approximately £13.9 million directly on the microelectronics cluster.

  This is a headline figure, more detailed information is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Enterprise

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it has provided to develop the optoelectronics cluster in each year since 2001; where these funds have been invested, and what outcomes have been achieved.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive provides Scottish Enterprise with funds for economic development, including cluster activity.

  Scottish Enterprise invests in the strategic priorities of establishing Scotland as an international centre for design and innovation, evolving Scotland’s infrastructure to support its design and innovation strategy and its core manufacturing/supply base: providing an appropriate skill base to meet current and future needs and accelerating Scotland’s engagement with global optoelectronics industries.

  Over the three-year period 2001-04, Scottish Enterprise has spent approximately £4.77 million directly on the optoelectronics cluster.

  This is a headline figure, more detailed information is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise.

Enterprise

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Highlands and Islands Enterprise is considering reducing the number of staff employed as a result of any reduction in the workload of staff who manage business advice services in light of its planned arrangements for supply partners.

Mr Jim Wallace: This is an operational matter for Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Europe

Linda Fabiani (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it plays as Scotland’s representative in the European Union.

Mr Andy Kerr: The Scottish Executive’s role as Scotland’s representative is to advocate, represent and promote Scottish devolved policy interests in the EU. The Executive engages actively with the European Commission, the European Parliament, the other EU institutions and other EU member states and regions at both ministerial and official level. On a day-to-day basis, the Scottish Executive EU Office carries out these functions on the ground in Brussels. The Executive also makes a significant contribution to the development of UK policy on EU issues in discussion with UK departments.

Europe

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations, and on what issues, the Scottish Executive EU Office has made on behalf of the Scottish Executive to EU institutions.

Mr Andy Kerr: Staff in the Scottish Executive EU Office (SEEUO) have a wide range of meetings and contacts with representatives of EU institutions and bodies. These contacts are numerous, take place at many different levels, are not all recorded and can be in the context of confidential negotiations.

Europe

Nicola Sturgeon (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what representations, and on what issues, the Scottish Executive EU Office has made to UKRep.

Mr Andy Kerr: Staff in the Scottish Executive EU Office (SEEUO) have a wide range of meetings and contacts with staff of the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union (UKRep). These contacts are numerous, take place at many different levels, are not all recorded and can be in the context of confidential negotiations.

Farming

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assistance will be given to farmers and crofters in south Shetland who are seeking to restore their businesses following the recent flood damage in the area.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive is providing assistance in a number of ways, in particular through grants under the crofting counties agricultural grants scheme. The amount of assistance given will depend on the nature and extent of the expenditure incurred in rectifying the damage. Rates of grant under that scheme vary according to the nature of the eligible work.

  The Executive is also able to be of some assistance to participants of the environmentally sensitive area (ESA) scheme where the floods have meant that compliance with scheme conditions will not be possible this year. In such cases, ESA scheme payments will continue and consideration will be given to requests to allow stock to graze on areas where this would not normally be permitted.

Farming

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether assistance and compensation to farmers and crofters in south Shetland will be sought through Article 33 of EU Council Regulation (EC) No 1257/1999 which states that support shall be granted for "restoring agricultural production potential damaged by natural disasters and introducing appropriate prevention measures", following the recent severe flooding in the area.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Rural Development Plan, which sets out the uses of the available EC rural development money, does not provide funding for Article 33 measures. However, the farmers and crofters affected are likely to be able to get grant assistance towards making good the damage. Most of that assistance will be available through the crofting counties agricultural grants scheme.

  In addition, the Executive is also able to be of some assistance to participants in the environmentally sensitive area (ESA) scheme where the floods have meant that compliance with scheme conditions will not be possible this year. In such cases ESA Scheme payments will continue and consideration will be given to requests to allow stock to graze on areas where this would not normally be permitted.

First Minister

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the First Minister has any plans to meet the Member of Parliament for Edinburgh South to discuss the relocation of Scottish Natural Heritage.

Allan Wilson: The First Minister has no such plans.

Flood Prevention

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2550 by Allan Wilson on 25 September 2003, how much was paid to each local authority for flood prevention and flood alleviation measures in each of the last five years.

Allan Wilson: Over the last five years, requests from local authorities to fund confirmed flood prevention schemes have resulted in capital allocations as follows:

  

 Year 2003-04
 East Dunbartonshire Council
 £0.75 million


 
 East Ayrshire Council
 £4.2 million


 
 City of Glasgow Council
 £0.5 million


 
 North Ayrshire Council
 £0.65 million


 
 Argyll and Bute Council
 £1.6 million


 Year 2002-03
 East Dunbartonshire Council
 £4.25 million


 
 Renfrewshire Council
 £1.5 million


 
 West Lothian Council
 £1.1 million


 
 City of Glasgow Council
 £0.5 million


 
 Perth and Kinross Council
 £1.55 million


 
 North Ayrshire Council
 £0.25 million


 Year 2001-02
 East Dunbartonshire Council
 £5.25 million


 
 Renfrewshire Council
 £1.0 million


 Year 2000-01
 East Dunbartonshire Council
 £0.25 million


 
 Perth and Kinross Council
 £0.75 million


 
 Renfrewshire Council
 £1.0 million


 Year 1999-2000
 Renfrewshire Council
 £1.0 million



  In addition, all councils receive a general capital allocation for their capital programmes: it is for each council to decide how it spends that allocation. Councils may or may not choose to spend their general capital allocation on flood prevention measures.

Football

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress it is making in attempting to persuade UEFA to choose Scotland as the host of the 2004 UEFA European Under-21 Championships, what the costs and benefits of hosting the competition would be, and what expenditure it has incurred in promoting Scotland’s campaign to host the championship.

Mr Frank McAveety: It is for the Scottish Football Association to make any bid to UEFA to host the 2004 European Under-21 Championships. That can only be done if and when Scotland qualify for the finals.

Health

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to increase the availability of physiotherapy and speech and language therapy services for children in north east Scotland.

Malcolm Chisholm: I look to NHS boards in the north east to determine the need for local therapy services and to provide the services required. We are supporting that at a national level through a range of initiatives and investment stemming from the Future Directions  strategy for developing allied health professions services.

Health

Fiona Hyslop (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what assurances it will give about the safety of cervical smear tests for women following the recent experience at the Newlands Medical Practice in Bathgate and what steps it is taking to promote the uptake of cervical smear tests whilst bearing in mind concerns that women may have.

Malcolm Chisholm: Safety of medical instruments is a high priority within NHSScotland, and there has been significant national and local investment in decontamination of instruments in recent years. A letter from SEHD to NHSScotland on 18 September (HDL(2003)42) gave details of the continuing and extensive programme of improvements in decontamination of instruments under the guidance of the Glennie Group, which was set up by SEHD in 2001. This requires primary care establishments to produce action plans for compliance with full Glennie technical requirements by 31 March 2004 and implementation by 31 December 2004. In broad terms, the Glennie Group encourages the use of single-use disposable instruments where practicable in terms of medical suitability and cost.

  With regard to cervical smear tests, a safety alert notice on decontamination of vaginal specula was distributed to NHSScotland in August 2003.

  It is very important that women continue to attend for a cervical smear tests when invited to do so and discuss any concerns they may have with their smear taker. NHS boards are responsible for the promotion of the cervical screening programme in their area.

Health

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what additional preparations are being made by the NHS to cope with winter pressures.

Malcolm Chisholm: Winter always brings additional pressures on the NHS through for example seasonal increases in flu and respiratory diseases. This year, we are already seeing a marked rise in GP consultations arising from flu and flu-like illnesses. The NHS is making additional preparations through planning for extra staff, more beds, increased critical care capacity, additional nursing home places, and continued co-ordinated action on delayed discharge. This is supported by significant extra investment with health spending set to increase on average by more than £630 million each year from 2003-04 to 2005-06, of which £30 million has been allocated this year specifically to address delayed discharges from hospitals.

Health

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to guarantee the availability of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation to infants under four weeks clinically deemed to require it.

Malcolm Chisholm: Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is provided at Yorkhill, it is designated and funded through National Services Division (NSD) as a national service. I would expect any proposals emerging from NHS Greater Glasgow’s review of maternity services to confirm that the impact on all services has been properly considered and that key national services, such as ECMO, will be protected. The National Services Division will be monitoring the position on behalf of the Scottish Executive Health Department.

Health

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it plans to take to ensure regular checks for diabetes for patients (a) in psychiatric units and (b) on antipsychotic drug treatment in the community, in light of recent warnings from the USA.

Malcolm Chisholm: Patients can respond better and perhaps faster to treatment if their mental health needs are addressed alongside their physical needs. A Scottish Needs Assessment Programme 2002 report Liaison Psychiatry and Psychology underlined the importance we attach to identifying the whole person needs of all patients in this regard. Product information for all atypical antipsychotic drugs has recently been updated to include warnings about the risk of hyperglycaemia and exacerbation of pre-existing diabetes.

Health

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to encourage the development of insulin pens that only contain small doses so that young children can manage their diabetes more independently than by the use of syringes.

Malcolm Chisholm: Insulin pens suitable for young children are readily available and being used without any problems by paediatric units in Scotland.

Health

Donald Gorrie (Central Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will consider reinstating a full annual medical check up for over-75s in their own homes or in GP surgeries.

Malcolm Chisholm: Arrangements for annual check-ups for over-75s are currently in place.

  The existing terms of service for general practitioners require them each year to invite each of their patients aged 75 or over to participate in a consultation to assess whether the patient has any need for general medical services. The invitation should include an offer to make a house call to carry out the assessment if required.

Hearing Aids

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made towards decreasing waiting times for the fitting and supply of hearing aids.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Executive is committed to improving audiology services, including reducing waiting times, across NHSScotland. A co-ordinated audiology modernisation programme is currently under way, and we are investing almost £20 million over five years from 2002-07 to ensure NHS boards are equipped with the necessary facilities, equipment, staff and aids. Progress will be monitored but clearly it will take time to make the necessary improvements.

Hospitals

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what concerns it has regarding the continued provision of consultant-led specialisms at the Borders General Hospital.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Borders General Hospital is an essential part of health service provision in the Scottish Borders and it continues to provide high quality consultant-led services. In recent months new consultants have been appointed in anaesthetics, radiology and haematology services.

Hospitals

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how often each electricity back-up generator is tested in each NHS hospital, grouped by NHS board area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information on the frequency of tests of emergency electricity back-up generators in NHS hospitals is not held centrally.

Hospitals

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the Scottish Association of Community Hospitals currently receives funding from the Chief Medical Officer and, if not, whether it will provide funding to enable the association to continue.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Scottish Association of Community Hospitals does not currently receive funding from the Chief Medical Officer. Proposals by the association for national funding would be given appropriate consideration.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the solar heating installed by Dunbritton Housing Association in its houses at Tullichewan has achieved the planned electricity savings and, if not, what remedial provision is envisaged.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows.

  The solar heating system is currently being monitored and information regarding the planned electricity savings will be available in Spring 2004.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the design specifications were for the heating of Dunbritton Housing Association homes at Tullichewan completed in 2002; whether expected heat output has been attained, and whether expected heating costs to the residents fall below, match or exceed the original estimates.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows.

  The heating system primarily utilises roof mounted solar heating panels with an electrical back-up.

  A monitoring and evaluation exercise is currently being undertaken which will provide information in spring 2004 as to whether heating costs meet the original estimates.

Housing

Ms Sandra White (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-2744 by Ms Margaret Curran on 14 October 2003, what percentage of the New Housing Partnership grant allocated to Glasgow Housing Association was spent on (a) tenant participation, (b) funding advice, (c) IT advice and (d) business planning advice in (i) 2000-01, (ii) 2001-02 and (iii) 2002-03.

Ms Margaret Curran: The following table sets out the expenditure on each of these categories as a percentage of the total grant spent by Glasgow Housing Association in that year.

  

 Expenditure Category
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03


 Tenant communication and consultation
 27.7%
 19.4%
 2.1%


 Funding advice
 12.4%
 3.6%
 6.2%


 IT advice
 -
 1.6%
 8.9%


 Business planning advice
 9.7%
 23.2%
 14.8%

Maternity Services

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what stage the review of maternity services in south east Scotland and Tayside is at.

Malcolm Chisholm: Different boards are at different stages in reviewing their maternity services. In addition, the maternity services group, set up under the auspices of the South East and Tayside (SEAT) regional planning group, is at an early fact-finding stage. An interim report will be available to SEAT in March 2004.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to meet travel costs of patients and carers travelling for (a) specialist treatment, (b) palliative care and (c) cancer treatment.

Malcolm Chisholm: There are currently two statutory schemes which allow full or partial reimbursement of travelling expenses of patients, and where medically necessary, their escorts, which are necessarily incurred when attending a hospital for the purpose of patients availing themselves of services provided under the care of a hospital consultant, namely:

  (a) A means tested scheme covering the whole of the country, and

  (b) The Highlands and Islands scheme which provides for the reimbursement of travelling expenses in excess of £8 without test of means. To qualify the patient must be resident or work in the former Highlands and Islands Development Board area. The distance travelled from the patient’s home must be 30 miles or more or involve a journey by sea of more than five miles.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the Agenda for Change negotiations, with particular reference to (a) protection arrangements, (b) part-time workers and (c) those who predominantly work nights and weekends.

Malcolm Chisholm: The Agenda for Change negotiations were completed last year and early implementation of the new pay system is now under way in England. In Scotland, the protection arrangements under Agenda for Change have been enhanced to ensure that no member of staff suffers a salary reduction.

  The Agenda for Change agreement will ensure that part-time workers will receive the same entitlements on a pro-rata basis as full-time colleagues and it will ensure that they receive no detriment.

  The new terms and conditions agreed under Agenda for Change also enhance out of hours payments for some staff. This may result in a reduction in payments for those who work predominately nights and weekends but in many cases the percentage reduction in the out of hours payments may be offset by new pay bands reflecting higher hourly rates. The potential impact on these staff and any recruitment and retention issues which may result are being clearly monitored through the early implementation process.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding is available to NHS boards for implementation of the code of practice under Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Malcolm Chisholm: Record levels of funding to NHS boards are increasing over the spending review period in terms of both revenue and capital.

  Any expenditure necessary to implement measures to comply with the requirements of Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will be met by prioritisation within NHS board financial allocations.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made by NHS boards and trusts in implementing the code of practice under Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether NHS boards and trusts will meet their obligations in relation to the code of practice under Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 on time.

Malcolm Chisholm: NHS boards and trusts are expected to meet their statutory obligations under Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

National Health Service

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive what capital expenditure will be necessary to implement fully the legislation in relation to disability access in Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, broken down by NHS board and trust, and whether such expenditure will be met from within existing budgets.

Malcolm Chisholm: This information is not held centrally but at NHS board/trust level.

  Any expenditure necessary to implement measures to comply with the requirements of Part 3 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 will be met by prioritisation within NHS board and trust financial allocations.

National Health Service

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34480 by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 March 2003, whether it will outline criteria used to determine that the abolition of NHS trusts will reduce unnecessary bureaucracy within the NHS, given that no direct cost implications have been identified.

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-34480 by Malcolm Chisholm on 13 March 2003, how abolition of NHS trusts will result in the reduction of unnecessary bureaucracy with minimal structural changes and disruption.

Malcolm Chisholm: Unnecessary bureaucracy will be reduced through having fewer separate finance, human resources and support services functions in each NHS board area, and by winding up separate trusts, each with a chair and a board and each required to produce separate audited accounts. Several NHS boards have already moved to single system working, with minimal disruption.

National Health Service

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what (a) whole-time equivalent and (b) headcount reduction it estimates there will be in (i) senior management and (ii) administrative and clerical staff within the NHS following the abolition of NHS trusts, broken down by grade and trust area.

Malcolm Chisholm: Information about estimated financial savings from dissolution of NHS trusts is not collected centrally, since the achievement of financial savings is not an objective of the policy. Nevertheless savings are already being realised in NHS board areas where single system working is in place. The Executive expects these savings to be reinvested in patient care. Following dissolution of trusts, all trust staff are transferring to the relevant NHS board as the single NHS employer in the area. The principles set out in the NHS National Organisational Change Policy will apply.

  As was explained in the White Paper A Partnership for Care, published in February 2003, the move to single system working through dissolving NHS trusts is intended to create single NHS organisations at local level with a common set of aims and values and clear lines of accountability. This will help to strengthen corporate working and provide clear strategic direction.

Planning

Mr Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of health concerns surrounding the terrestrial trunked radio system, what steps it has taken to satisfy itself that the health guidelines contained in National Planning Policy Guideline 19: Radio Telecommunications are wholly adequate.

Ms Margaret Curran: The guidance in National Planning Policy Guideline 19 is informed by advice from the National Radiological Protection Board and the Executive’s Health Department. That advice was guided by extensive research into the possible health effects of mobile technologies, including TETRA. We remain satisfied that there is no compelling evidence to indicate that any amendment of the guidance in this regard is required. However, the Scottish Executive continue to monitor research findings and consider the implications for planning policy.

Prison Service

Maureen Macmillan (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons’ report on HM Prison Inverness.

Cathy Jamieson: The Chief Inspector’s report pays tribute to the quality of the work being done by the staff at HM Prison Inverness and he recognises that much has been done since the previous inspection.The Scottish Prison Service understands his concern at the high prisoner numbers and continues to monitor this as part of its wider management of the prison population.

Public Bodies

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Midlothian has featured on any of the shortlists for the relocation of public bodies.

Tavish Scott: Midlothian has not appeared on any shortlist of locations.

Renewable Energy

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how local communities will be consulted with regard to planning applications for wind farms producing more the 50 megawatts.

Lewis Macdonald: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-2017 on 29 August 2003. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Chris Ballance (South of Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether building new roads leads to economic growth.

Nicol Stephen: The economic impact of building new roads is assessed on a case by case basis. For all new schemes this is done according to the methodology set out in the Scottish transport appraisal guidance.

Schools

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-315 by Peter Peacock on 2 June 2003, what the further provisions are under which proposals to close a denominational school are referred to ministers.

Peter Peacock: Sections 22C and 22D of the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 cover circumstances where pupils would no longer be able to attend a school of the denomination concerned, or where, following representations from the church or denominational body concerned, ministers consider that the proposal would result in a significant deterioration in the provision, distribution or availability of school education in denominational schools compared with other public schools.

Scottish Criminal Record Office

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost of running the Scottish Criminal Record Office has been in each of the last two years and what the estimated cost is for this year and each of the next three financial years.

Cathy Jamieson: The cost of running the Scottish Criminal Record Office (SCRO) in 2001-02 was £7.7 million gross or £6.7 million net (of recoverable VAT) and in 2002-03 it was £9.07 million gross or £7.94 million net.

  Budgetary provision for 2003-04 is £10.16 million gross or £9 million net and the current forecast of outturn expenditure for 2003-04 is in line with net provision. Planned provision for 2004-05 is £9.4 million net and for 2005-06 it is £9.9 million.

Scottish Executive Finance

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is satisfied that the targets outlined in its draft budget 2004-05 will be delivered by the civil service.

Mr Andy Kerr: Scottish Executive ministers are responsible for the delivery of all the targets set out in Draft Budget 2004-05 .

Scottish Executive Finance

Mr Brian Monteith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-3183 by Mr Andy Kerr on 30 October 2003, how the remaining £3.592 million of the "Miscellaneous" section of the Other Enterprise and Lifelong Learning budget in the Draft Budget 2004-05 will be spent and what the corresponding figures are for 2004-05 and 2005-06.

Mr Andy Kerr: This is a small reserve (0.15% of total budget) held against emergencies and unforeseen pressures in 2003-04. The corresponding figures for 2004-05 and 2005 06 are £2.561 million and £1.346 million respectively.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidelines, rules or regulations are in place for the (a) operation of elections to and (b) creation of written constitutions for social inclusion partnerships (SIPs).

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows.

  Issues of SIP governance are a matter for local decision and as such the Executive has made no prescription on how such matters should operate. However, the robust monitoring framework which we have in place for SIPs allows for local issues to be brought to the attention of Communities Scotland.

Social Inclusion Partnerships

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how elections to social inclusion partnerships (SIPs) are monitored; who carries out such monitoring, and how this monitoring is recorded.

Ms Margaret Curran: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Acting Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows.

  Issues of SIP governance are a matter for local decision and as such the monitoring of any elections associated with SIPs would be the responsibility of individual SIPs. However, the robust monitoring framework which we have in place for SIPs allows for local issues to be brought to the attention of Communities Scotland.

Tourism

Mr David Davidson (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much tourism revenue will be lost in Aberdeenshire as a result of the loss of spawning salmon during summer 2003 due to low water levels and increased temperatures.

Mr Frank McAveety: Angling tourism is of considerable importance to Deeside. However, it is too early to tell whether the low water has had any direct impact on tourism spend. The first point at which any impact might be determined will be next summer when survey work on the Dee and its tributaries will identify any weaknesses in the 2004 class of juvenile fish.

Tourism

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much VisitScotland has spent marketing Scotland in (a) Italy, (b) Switzerland, (c) Norway, (d) Sweden, (e) Germany and (f) Spain in each year since 1997; what form of media has been used, and how much it will spend on marketing Scotland in each of these countries in each of the next three years.

Mr Frank McAveety: This is an operational matter for VisitScotland. However, VisitScotland has an overriding strategy to increase the volume and value of visitors from international markets. VisitScotland will continue to work using its thematic brand campaigns in key international markets to ensure the best possible return on investment.

Transport

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to support Glasgow City Council in meeting the increased costs created by the extended maintenance and health and safety regimes required for the Clyde Tunnel.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive provides revenue support to local authorities for roads, bridges and tunnels, including the Clyde Tunnel, through the general local government finance settlement. That support is not ring fenced, and it is for each local authority to decide how to allocate its expenditure.

Travellers

Phil Gallie (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S20-673 by Margaret Curran on 6 November 2003, how many sites were provided by local authorities for gypsies and travelling people in (a) 1980, (b) 1985, (c) 1990 and (d) 2000.

Ms Margaret Curran: The number of sites provided by local authorities for gypsies-travellers at the dates specified is shown in the following table.

  

 Year
 Number of Sites 
  Available for Gypsies/Travellers at Each Year


 (a) 1980
 1


 (b) 1985
 13


 (c) 1990
 23


 (d) 2000
 35

Vaccines

Mr Adam Ingram (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-33207 by Malcolm Chisholm on 24 January 2003, what its interpretation of a precautionary measure is in the context of the phasing out of the use of thiomersal in vaccines.

Malcolm Chisholm: "Precautionary" is commonly defined as describing an action taken in advance to avoid potential risk or ensure a good result.

Voluntary Sector

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support voluntary groups that carry out work normally undertaken by the public sector.

Mrs Mary Mulligan: Our strategy for encouraging the growth and sustainability of voluntary organisations involved in the delivery of public services was set out in A Review of the Scottish Executive’s Policies to Promote the Social Economy , which was published in January 2003. This is available from Scottish Parliament’s Reference Centre.

  We are currently developing an action plan to implement the specific recommendations of the review and hope to publish this shortly.

Voluntary Sector

Mrs Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will address any backlog of unmet training needs within the voluntary social work sector over the next four years.

Euan Robson: Information on unmet training needs within the voluntary sector is not held. Training is a matter for the individual employer.

  In October 2003, the Executive announced an additional £9 million over the next three years for local authorities to invest in training. It is anticipated that staff who work in partnership with local authorities, including independent providers from the voluntary and private sector will benefit from this additional funding.

  The Executive provide training grants under Section 9 of the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 to promote an acceptable level of practice competence in key areas of social work covered by the voluntary sector by enabling organisations involved to provide or secure training for their paid staff and voluntary workers which would not otherwise be available to them.

  Currently, the Scottish Social Services Council is undertaking an investigation of all the key funding streams available for training in the social work sector and this will include the voluntary sector.